Rigid Insulation Cutting

[Fezbollah]

Anyone using one of these to cut thick rigid insulation? I'm wandering if it will cut through day, 150mm without wandering. Looks like it could be nearly dust free too!
http://www.bosch-professional.com/za/en/foam-rubber-cutter-gsg-300-131486-0601575103.html

 

[RKA]

That's intended for soft foam.  For rigid foam both Bosch and festool sell foam cutting jigsaw blades that work quite well without creating a cloud of dust typical of a toothed blade plowing through rigid foam.

 

[rst]

I've used Festool 493656 for foil faced 3" foam and it worked great, also used the guide rail...perfectamundo!

 

[rljatl]

What blade would you use if cutting 2" or 3" foil backed rigid foam insulation with a track saw or table saw?

I am going to line my wooden garage doors with it and plan to cut a 45 degree angle on the long edge to accommodate the door sections as they move up and down.

 

[tjbnwi]

What blade would you use if cutting 2" or 3" foil backed rigid foam insulation with a track saw or table saw?

I am going to line my wooden garage doors with it and plan to cut a 45 degree angle on the long edge to accommodate the door sections as they move up and down.

I use the stock 48 tooth blade in the 55, the stock blade in the 75 also.

Tom

 

[rljatl]

Thanks Tom.  Sounds good.  I'll use my TS75.

 

[Fezbollah]

That's intended for soft foam.  For rigid foam both Bosch and festool sell foam cutting jigsaw blades that work quite well without creating a cloud of dust typical of a toothed blade plowing through rigid foam.

True, but why wouldn't it work on celotex? Hard to believe that a product doesn't exist for this application as any contractor would be interested in it. Don't the jigsaw blades wander about when you cut the thicker boards?

 

[jonathan-m]

If you do enough of it and can justify the price, Mafell just came out with the DSS 300


Another option is the Festool SSU swordsaws

 

[Peter_C]

I too use my TS55 to cut foil faced rigid foam, with dust collection hooked up. Use an old dull blade. A jig saw with a longer blade handles are curves.

 

[RKA]

That's intended for soft foam.  For rigid foam both Bosch and festool sell foam cutting jigsaw blades that work quite well without creating a cloud of dust typical of a toothed blade plowing through rigid foam.

True, but why wouldn't it work on celotex? Hard to believe that a product doesn't exist for this application as any contractor would be interested in it. Don't the jigsaw blades wander about when you cut the thicker boards?

It very likely would work, but it's a specialist tool marketed towards the upholstery industry which needs to place the soft material on a flat table and cut.  The jigsaw is perfectly acceptable with rigid materials. The cuts are pretty square, but I was lining joist bays, so I can't say I was putting a square on the cut edges.  Nothing struck me as off when I eyeballed it.

 

[Holzhacker]

Oh you could use the festool trion blades specifically made for insulation cutting, part #493 656, blade S 155/W

 

[Tracky]

What blade would you use if cutting 2" or 3" foil backed rigid foam insulation with a track saw or table saw?

Centerfire blade? Or is it just a gimmick? Seems like a lot of money for just a steel blade.

 

[Fezbollah]

I saw the centre fire blades, too. I think we're going down this route as it's a good excuse to buy a table saw! The saw obviously won't cut 150mm, but flipping the board over and cutting it twice will still be quicker and cleaner than what we're doing now. As well as a clean cut, we want as little dust as possible. I'm happy to let go of £50 to not have to clear up celotex dust anymore!